NEW BRUNSWICK -- A former Rutgers football player has rejected a plea deal in a string of alleged armed robberies and home invasions and plans to make his case before a jury.

Tejay Johnson, 24, will face 151 1/2 in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines if convicted.

"So, I have a young man in front of me... supposedly, who played for a decent football team and had a bright future," Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves said from the stand in Middlesex County Superior Court Friday morning. "Once I sign this document, he faces the rest of his life in jail. Are you ready for a possibility that if you lose you could die in jail?

"Mr. Johnson, what do you want me to do?" the judge asked of Johnson referring to the pre-trial document, which sets a trial date and prohibits further plea deal discussions.

"Sign it," Johnson responded.

Johnson was charged along with 14 other former Rutgers players and students in 2015 as part of an investigation into three armed robberies and an assault in New Brunswick in Piscataway. The case, which included seven defendants on the football team, contributed to the firing of former coach Kyle Flood, as well as the forced resignation of athletic director Julie Hermann.

The trial date is set for Jan. 9, 2018, when jury selection is scheduled to begin. If convicted, Johnson could be sentenced to concurrent prison terms on the charges, but Nieves explained since there are five alleged victims, the terms could be consecutive, leaving the possibility open that Johnson would not be eligible for parole until 105 1/2 years were served.

The plea deal on the table was for 15 years in prison in exchange for Johnson's guilty plea. His attorney, Ian Goldman, told NJ Advance Media Johnson was seeking a single digit sentence.

"It was a fruitless effort," Goldman said in negotiating a deal. "I wasn't going to ask for a number that Johnson wouldn't accept."

Goldman said he plans on to file an interlocking appeal, which asks the appellate court to consider the appeal before trial because it would cause "irreparable harm" to his client.

Johnson declined to comment after the proceeding.

Andre Boggs, another former football player charged in the robberies, appeared in court Friday as well where his lawyer asked for an extension on signing pretrial documents pending the outcomes of the cases against Johnson and Lloyd Terry Jr. Boggs is scheduled back in court on Sept. 22.

Johnson's defense attorney had argued that his client didn't understand what he was signing when he authorized the search of his phone in New Brunswick police headquarters.

Kaylanna Ricks, who was accused of being the getaway driver in an unsuccessful robbery, rejected a plea deal that required her to testify. Ricks told the judge last Friday she wants a trial.

One of the other defendants, Dylan Mastriana, was scheduled to appear in front of Nieves on Thursday but the proceedings were adjourned until July 7.

Joyce Yi, of Palisade Park, who was charged as part of the investigation with drug possession unrelated to the the robbery cases, took a deal last week in which she will enter pretrial intervention in exchange for her testimony during trial.